The number of government political positions is expected to increase a whopping 69 percent, costing the state MVR 331.2 million in payroll per annum.

This figure is in comparison to former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, based on the data provided in the estimated state budget for 2020. An estimated MVR 331.2 million in salaries, benefits, and amenities is included in the estimated state budget.

The proposed budget estimates that a total of 785 political positions will be there in 2020, which is a great increment compared to the 465 positions by the end of the previous government. In a press conference last July, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that his administration will not go any further in the number of political positions.

According to the budget, the highest number of positions are in the President’s Office which has 377 employees. With the inclusion of employees working under contracts, the figure increases to 465 in total. Health Ministry comes in second, which has 109 political positions while Foreign Ministry is third highest with 86 political positions.

Around MVR 8.7 billion is estimated to be spent on the salaries and benefits of civil servants under the state budget 2020. The number of civil servants is accounted for at 45,835.